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Children’s Books in Other Languages

You might not know this, but most major book store chains (Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc.) sell foreign language versions of many familiar, classic children’s books. It’s true. Usually, the section is tucked in between two other sections and it can be easy to miss. But just do a little digging; you’re sure to find them…and you’ll be instantly charmed. If you and your kids are learning a foreign language and need to depart from the rote workbook drill, these can be really fun practice. And the great thing is, if you’re even remotely familiar with the English original, reading the Spanish or French version alongside can be great practice.

Here are a few of my faves:

This one’s good for teachin both colors AND Spanish vocabulary. Perfect for my two younger punks.

Everyone say it with me: Red. Rojo. (That’s “Roe-Hoe” for those of you who don’t speak Espanol.)

I’m just here to help!

I love Spanish vocabulary words. I challenge any of you to throw a word at me that I can’t repeat back to you in Spanish! If you can, I’ll run out of my hotel room naked, screaming “The Red Coats are coming! The Red Coats are coming!”

Never mind. I suddenly don’t want to play that game anymore.

And awww. The Spanish version of Are You My Mother? which happens to be one of the first books I ever remember reading. It used to scare me so.

“Where is my Mother?”

I always welled up at this point.

OH! And remember when the baby bird happens upon an excavator, and the excavator says “SNORT?”

Who knew “snort” translated to “PRONK” in Spanish? PRONK! I think I like it better.

Hahaha. I don’t know why reading this in Spanish cracks me up, but it does. “‘Oh no!’ said the baby bird. ‘You are not my mother. You are a scary snort!’ That’s what the original says. Only…doesn’t “feo” mean “ugly?”

Heh. They thought they could sneak that past me. Amateurs.

And oh. There’s also this. *Big, heaving sigh.* How many of you can recite the English version word-for-word with your eyes closed and standing on your head while sipping water?

Me, Me, Me!

God bless ya, Maggie. Can I call you Maggie?

“In the great green room, there was a telephone, and a red balloon, and picture of…”

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Wait till you read the Dr. Suess books in spanish. You thought they were hard to say in English??

http://katelong.blogspot.com Kate

SSSooooo funny!

Angie

That sounds like a fun game… How about “otorrinolaringólogo”?

I love your site

sam

well were learning Latin, can you get any of these books in that?

Stina

The Very Hungry Caterpillar–LOVE IT en espanol.

Dani

So I realize that this is months late, but… oh well!

In response to Sam’s question above: a lot of Dr. Seuss books are in Latin, and super fun to read! They tend to change the meanings though so the rhythm and rhyming are better. Still, we read them in my high school Latin class and loved them!

Rita

I just stumbled on this…late, too…but had to comment. I think one of my favorites is Alejandro y el Dia Terrible, Horrible…looks almost the same as English, but the syllabic emphasis is great! Just wish I were able to roll my double rr’s! Check out Scholastic Books for getting these at reasonable prices in paperback.

Martha from Mexico

Hi Ree!
I don´t know if you have friends that speak Spanish but if you need help or have doubts about Spanish please do not hesitate to contact me. Talking about PRONK I hadn´t heard that word in my life, I think is the translation of a sound, in this case the machine sound. And you are right “feo” means ugly, we don’t have an specific word to translate scary, scary is an adjective in English and for us is a verb that means to provoke fear “inspirar miedo” o “dar miedo” so, the translation for us would be something like “Tu eres un pronk que da miedo”. Sorry for my English in advance. Saludos!

Martha from Mexico

I forgot to give you my email, sorry, here it is.

http://theharrisfamily6.blogspot.com/ christy

There is an advantage to having just found “The Pioneer Woman” about 6 months ago…I have lots o’ catchin’ up to do! So many posts…so little time! Okay…so…I just found this post and it cracks me up because I live in Germany (army wife life) and we get American cartoons in German….books…movies….and I laugh my hiney off CONSTANTLY! To the point of tears! The kids join me and we try to tell other people (aka…family in the States) and they just don’t get it. Alas…we are in our own little world…but I’m glad YOU think it’s funny! I leave you with my new favorite German word…it’s for bubblebath. Sit down…it’s funny….”SPRUDLEBAD”…pronounced “schproo-duhl-bahd”. You can say it whenever you want…I don’t own it…

Rachel H.

Okay, I just came across this post too. It’s great. I happen to speak Spanish and enjoy bilingual kids books. PRONK cracked me up.

http://eowyns-heir.blogspot.com Christina Szrama

the Memoria Press French and Latin curricula are really good if you’re looking for something for middle school age or even early high school!

Anonymous

i love children’s book in spanish! im a spanish education major and just wish i could teach your kids at home!

My favorite spanish one I have is, If you give a mouse a cookie- Si le da un raton una galleta.